Go-To 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 26, 2013

BENSALEM, Pa. – The results are nearly all in. After 50 state and the District of Columbia championships, the season is over for most. The only thing left is the National High School Invitational, which tips off on April 4 in North Bethesda, Md.

Seven of the eight teams in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 high school boys’ basketball rankings will compete at the NHSI, with an eighth, Montrose Christian, looking to take down No. 1 Findlay Prep in the opening round at Georgetown Prep. Montrose Christian, which won the event in 2011, is a tough opponent no matter who it plays.

Kudos to No. 5 Mater Dei, No. 11 Christ the King and newcomer No. 19 Romulus for winning state championships. That boosts the Go-To 25 rankings state championship total to 11. No. 9 Prime Prep, an NHSI participant, and No. 15 Bishop O’Connell have won national tournament/conference championships in the past month. Seven schools in the NHSI do not compete for state championships, making this must-see event crucial to the final Go-To 25 rankings. The final rankings, both boys and girls, will be released on April 8, at noon ET.

Have a Happy Easter and Passover. Hope to see you at the NHSI or the McDonald’s All American Games in Chicago on April 3. – Christopher Lawlor

Varsity Letters

Player of the Week

Jon Severe, senior, No. 11 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.): The uncommitted senior guard put on a record-setting performance last weekend at the New York State Federation Class AA Tournament in Albany. In the championship game, Severe pumped in a game-high 28 points and set the AA tournament record with 68 points in two games as the Royals clubbed Long Island Lutheran (Brookville), 73-64. In the semifinals, Severe was spectacular scoring a Class AA federation record 40 points, including his team’s first 12 in a 68-55 win over Bishop Kearney (Rochester). For the game he finished 12 of 18 from the field and 4 of 7 from three-point land. Severe, who was named New York’s Mr. Basketball, was annoyed that LIL’s Kentan Facey (a Connecticut recruit), was named the New York Gatorade player of the year last week. In the final, he took out his frustration on the independent team from Long Island. Severe was also named the Most Valuable Player and now will concentrate on selecting a school during the late signing period, which starts on April 17.

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, March 26, 2013

1. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (34-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The regular season is complete. The Pilots will play again on April 4 in the National High School Invitational in North Bethesda, Md.

2. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (29-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Up next are the National High School Invitational quarterfinals on April 4.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Up next is the National High School Invitational.

4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (26-1)**

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Won sixth state championship in eight years, in annexing the Class 5A crown. Turned down a bid to play in the NHSI. Season complete.

5. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (34-2)**

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won state-record 10^th championship, beating Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 50-45, in CIF Open Division final. Stanley Johnson had 26 points and cleared 12 rebounds. Coach Gary McKnight notched his 960^th victory. Season complete.

6. Simeon, Chicago (30-3)**

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Won a fourth consecutive Class 4A championship. Duke-bound F Jabari Parker was named winner of the Morgan Wootten National High School Player of the Year Award. Season complete.

7. Morgan Park, Chicago (33-3)**

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Class 3A championship. Season complete.

8. Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (27-1)**

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 7A championship. The Tigers are expected to receive a bid to National High School Invitational in April. Regular season complete.

9. Prime Prep Academy, Dallas (35-0)**

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Will play in the NHSI but still have one tune-up game on March 30 in Kansas.

10. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (29-3)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Season complete.

11. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (28-3)**

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won Class AA State Federation championship, defeating Long Island Lutheran (Brookville), 73-64, in final. MVP Jon Severe dropped in 28 points and freshman Rawle Alkins added 12. In the semifinals, Severe scored a tournament record 40 points in a 68-55 win over Bishop Kearney (Rochester). Season complete.

12. Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (37-2)**

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won second straight Class AA championship. The Lions have no seniors, returning an entire squad and will be considered one of the nation’s top teams in 2013-14. Season complete.

13. Whitney Young, Chicago (27-4)*

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Season complete.

14. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (33-5)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Regular season complete. The Warriors will play in the NHSI.

15. Bishop O’Connell, Arlington, Va. (30-7)**

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Won Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament titles. Season complete.

16. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (29-3)**

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Won Division I state championship. Season complete.

17. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (27-5)*

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season title, going 18-0. Season complete.

18. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (25-5)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Will play in the NHSI.

19. Romulus, Mich. (27-1)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Class A state championship, beating Southeastern (Detroit), 61-49, in final. E.C. Matthews flipped in 18 of his 20 points in the opening three quarters and Leo Edwards scored 13 and Wes Clark 12. It was the school’s first title in 27 years. Season complete.

20. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (28-2)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Season complete.

21. Salesian, Richmond, Calif. (30-4)*

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Season complete.

22. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (32-2)*

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Season complete.

23. The Rock School, Gainesville, Fla. (33-4)**

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won Sunshine Independent Athletic Association Tournament championship. Season complete.

24. Olympic, Charlotte, N.C. (30-0)**

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

25. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (30-4)*

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 11 Pershing (Detroit).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (25-5)**

2. Lower Merion, Ardmore, Pa. (30-3)**

3. Chester, Pa. (28-4)*

4. Benedictine, Richmond, Va. (33-5)**

5. Hudson Catholic, Jersey City, N.J. (29-2)*

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midlands

1. Omaha (Neb.) Central (26-4)**

2. Germantown, Wis. (28-0)**

3. West, Iowa City, Iowa (26-0)**

4. Carmel, Ind. (25-2)**

5. Pershing, Detroit (25-1)*

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

South

1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (33-2)**

2. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (30-3)**

3. Travis, Fort Bend, Texas (33-5)**

4. Southwind Prep, Memphis (34-6)**

5. Madison Central, Richmond, Ky. (32-5)**

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (28-4)*

2. Pacific Hills, Los Angeles (29-4)**

3. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose (28-6)*

4. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-3)*

5. Curtis, University Place, Wash. (27-2)**

Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Records are through Sunday.

** Won state, conference or national championship tournament titles.

* Season complete

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly until the conclusion of the high school season. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition and quality of league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s senior writer/evaluator Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, evaluators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter @clawlor or BlueStarMedia1, or www.bluestarmedia.org.